Brailsford claims he thought Shaver was reaching for a gun when police were trying to take him into custody and was refusing police commands. Shaver didn't have a gun.

The ex-lawman described his growing up in Mesa, his time as an Eagle Scout, missionary and member of the U.S. Army National Guard of Arizona. He then talked about the process and training he went through to become a Mesa police officer.

While on the stand, Brailsford described going up to the fifth floor of the hotel.

He described how he and one other officer, both armed with AR-15 rifles, were assigned as “cover officers” to guard the team as the situation unfolded and they tried to make contact with the necessary people to assure safety in the hotel.

"I was perfectly focused on my job and I knew what needed to be done," Brailsford said.

He testified that Shaver disobeyed orders to not put his hands behind him on a couple of occasions.

"For some reason, he placed his hands behind his back," Brailsford said. "For one I didn’t know why he did that he wasn’t instructed in my training that could mean a weapons check."

Brailsford says he fired his rifle when Shaver, reached behind him again, this time in what he described was a classic “draw stroke,” as if drawing a gun.

Brailsford said he was terrified for the safety of officers and a woman who were in the hallway.

His voice cracked with emotion when he described learning the next day that Shaver didn't have a gun on his body. "I still cannot understand why he made that motion," Brailsford said, adding that he wouldn't have fired if Shaver hadn't reached toward his back.

Shaver can be heard on body camera video saying, "Please do not shoot me."

While no gun was found on Shaver's body, two pellet rifles related to his pest-control job were later found in his room.

The detective investigating the shooting has agreed Shaver's movement was similar to reaching for a pistol, but has said it also looked as though Shaver was pulling up his loose-fitting basketball shorts that had fallen down as he crawled. The investigator had noted he didn't see anything that would have prevented officers from simply handcuffing Shaver as he was on the floor.

The shooting occurred as police departments across the United States became the focal point of protests over deadly encounters with law enforcement.

Brailsford served as a Mesa officer for about two years before he was fired for violations of departmental policy, including unsatisfactory performance.

The courtroom was packed, with police officers, and family members of both Brailsford and Shaver.

Stargazers, get ready for a dazzling show Wednesday night into Thursday morning as the year's best meteor shower, the Geminids, reaches its peak. NASA says the shower will peak between 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13 and dawn on Dec. 14.

Stargazers, get ready for a dazzling show Wednesday night into Thursday morning as the year's best meteor shower, the Geminids, reaches its peak. NASA says the shower will peak between 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13 and dawn on Dec. 14.

Pigeons can be a pain. And once you get them, they're hard to get rid of. But some neighbors at one apartment complex near 28th Street and Osborn in Phoenix are worried about dead and dying pigeons. And no one is happy about what's left behind.

Pigeons can be a pain. And once you get them, they're hard to get rid of. But some neighbors at one apartment complex near 28th Street and Osborn in Phoenix are worried about dead and dying pigeons. And no one is happy about what's left behind.

A Guadalupe man is sitting in jail with a charge of second-degree murder after he allegedly stabbed and killed his girlfriend in front of her teen son, according to court documents. (Source: Maricopa County Sheriff's Office)

A Guadalupe man is sitting in jail with a charge of second-degree murder after he allegedly stabbed and killed his girlfriend in front of her teen son, according to court documents.

Laney Sweet, the widow of the Texas man who was shot and killed by an ex-Mesa police officer who was found not guilty of murder, spoke to CBS News about the acquittal and how her family is coping with the loss. (Tuesday, December 12, 2017)

Laney Sweet, the widow of the Texas man who was shot and killed by an ex-Mesa police officer who was found not guilty of murder, spoke to CBS News about the acquittal and how her family is coping with the loss. (Tuesday, December 12, 2017)

"The court believes that you may well face a murder charge in this case," the commissioner said when setting a $150,000 secured appearance bond for Sidney Landers, who was arrested Monday for child abuse. Full story @ https://goo.gl/C67ZMd.

"The court believes that you may well face a murder charge in this case," the commissioner said when setting a $150,000 secured appearance bond for Sidney Landers, who was arrested Monday for child abuse. Full story @ https://goo.gl/C67ZMd.